Good day Ladies and Gentleman. If you were following this blog in February you will know that while I was at the Welsh Open I did a live blog to keep you all updated on the goings on from the tables that were not being Televised tables. While I am in Manchester today for the last 32 and Last 16 action I am hoping to provide some more live updates.
Last 16
Time to start the preparation for tonight's Last 16. Here's what we have schedule wise.
7pm: Ricky Walden Vs Yan Bingtao (Table 1 on completion of Higgins Vs Patrick)
Ryan Day Vs Barry Hawkins (Table 2)
Anthony Hamilton Vs Jak Jones
Xiao Guodong Vs Chris Wakelin
Not before 8pm: Judd Trump Vs Mark Williams (Table 1)
Liang Wenbo Vs Ben Woollaston
Stuart Bingham Vs Rhys Clark
Tom Ford Vs John Higgins/Fraser Patrick
Really looking forward to these. Particularly Walden Vs Bingtao and Day Vs Hawkins but I'm sat in a position to keep you across all of those four games commencing at 7.
Just a slight shame that once again play cannot start on time on table one. Particularly so given that play started an hour earlier today.
Great starts for Ryan Day and Chris Wakelin. All Xiao has done in frame one is break off, Wakelin knocking a long red in and then getting right amongst them. Day meanwhile was let in by a poor snooker escape from Hawkins for his opportunity. Both have taken their opening frames now.
Confident from Jak Jones in his match with Hamilton. 85 in the end winning that opener. That won't necessarily be the quickest match mind you. Was nice to see Wakelin recognise a stalemate come along and ask for a re-rack before all the messing about. Saves time. The second frame between Hawkins and Day isn't going to be a clean kill but some important tactical play is in progress. Big difference between 1-1 and 2-0 early doors.
Wakelin has a nice little chance in frame two now after his 130 total clearance in the first.
Wakelins chance didn't last long before he played safe, though having said that he now has another after a good long pot. The vital action has just taken place on table two where Ryan Day missed the final red for frame ball and Hawkins made a lovely clearance, particularly splitting pink and black from the side cushion and levels at 1-1.
Frame three not been the best between Day and Hawkins. Plenty of misses from both and it seems as though frame two has gotten into Days head. Jak Jones looking good to double his lead, while Xiao eventually levelled with Wakelin in a scrappy frame two.
Hawkins cleared from the last two reds to the pink to win an important frame three and then capitalised by making a break of 89 from the chance given to him in the fourth and he's now one away at 3-1. Hamilton has just missed on 66 in frame three against Jones. A very healthy lead of 66 but not yet a frame winning one.
Guodong getting the upper hand in the more dis-jointed frames against Chris Wakelin. 2-1 to the Chinese player there now while Hamilton did indeed get frame three on the board, trailing Jak Jones 3-1 now.
Barry Hawkins put Ryan Day away really well there, Day lost his way after the second frame and never recovered. Hawkins the first man into the quarters 4-1 without having to play his best by any means.
Jak Jones has not done a great deal in his appearances on the World Snooker tour from my memory but this will certainly be a highlight if he can finish it off. 3-1 up on Hamilton after another confident one visit kill in frame four. Woollaston is 2-0 up on Wenbo after a century in frame two, although I cannot see that table from my position. Higgins and Ford now underway on table two. Short turnaround for Higgins and this is the second event in a row these two have met in the Last 16.
Xiao Guodong isn't winning frames in one visit but the important thing is the former, he's winning frames and one away from the quarter-finals at 3-1. I cannot see the Bingham table but I can see the scoreboard ticking over at a rate of knots and the 2015 World Champion walking round the table with a spring in his step as he notches up a heavy break to lead Rhys Clark 2-0. Jones has missed an early chance in frame five and allowed Hamilton an opportunity to try and get back into things.
Hamilton is indeed back in it making 79 from the Jones miss to get back to 2-3. Higgins made an early 50+ in the first against Ford, before giving Tom an opportunity to counter but a costly miss makes it 1-0 to the Scot. Barring snookers on table three Wakelin has gotten one back after a good contribution in the fifth against Xiao.
Can see about a fifth of the table in the Bingham match but it was enough to see that Clark had left the brown in the jaws when attempting to clear and win the third. Bingham did the rest and leads 3-0. Every time I've looked at the Wenbo Vs Woollaston scoreboard since Ben went 2-0 ahead, Liang has been at the table and scoring, turning it right around to lead 3-2. Hamilton has a really golden opportunity to take his match with Jones the distance and you would expect him to do so. Higgins seems to have found something in the last hour or so he's had off. He misses the brown for a ton but leads Ford 2-0 now.
Those two deciders were contrasting as you'll know if you've been following my Twitter. 70+ from Hamilton wins his from 3-1 down against Jak Jones who didn't have a chance in the decider.
Chris Wakelin meanwhile had to come from 30 odd points behind with two reds left. All the reds and colours were in the middle of the table except for the black which was on the bottom cushion. He didn't get onto it perfectly but still rolled it in in dramatic style, gave a big fist pump and come on as he too comes from 3-1 down to beat Xiao Guodong 4-3.
While all of that excitement took place, Stuart Bingham eased past Rhys Clark 4-1, and John Higgins has just extended his lead to 3-1 against Tom Ford courtesy of a 80+ break.
Just gets better and better. On potting match ball pink in the decider against Woollaston, Liang Wenbo gives himself a couple of slaps to the face. As a sort of reward. John Higgins meanwhile has beaten Tom Ford 4-1, with a much better display than in the afternoon, finishing with a century.
Just the TV table left now where Judd Trump leads Mark Williams 2-0.
Judd ends up winning 4-0 against Mark Williams. He with Higgins and Bingham for me are going to be the main contenders for this title now.
Been a quality day here in Manchester, some thoroughly enjoyable matches to complete my two days here.
Here is the quarter-finals line-up for the English Open:
Barry Hawkins Vs Ricky Walden (12pm)
Judd Trump Vs John Higgins (to follow)
Stuart Bingham Vs Chris Wakelin (7pm)
Liang Wenbo Vs Anthony Hamilton (7pm)
Last 32
Mark Allen Vs Yan Bingtao going to be on table three this afternoon. Could be a great match that and I'll be keeping you across as much as I can. Ding Junhui is on table 4 and Walden Vs Kritsanut Lertsattayatthorn on table 5 so if a good vantage point is secured I will have updates from those as well.
Stuart Bingham Vs David Gilbert - My second and final feature match of the Last 32 is underway. Who knows, after the shocks of this afternoon so far the winner could very easily come from this match.
After a slow start Stuart Bingham has gotten the first real chance and it's a decent look at taking the opening frame.
Confident start indeed free Bingham as a nice break of 75 makes it 1-0 after a shaky start from both players.
When these two met at the Shanghai Masters recently Gilbert got off to a slow start and couldn't recover. He's in danger of the same happening here after missing a yellow going into the bunch and leaving Bingham right in at the start of frame two.
However, Bingham has quickly lost position only making 30, and the frame is now becoming more tactical.
Gilbert has won that tactical battle and with reds open has a very nice opportunity to level the match.
At least it was a good opportunity until a fatal miss from Gilbert and Bingham has quickly cleared to double his advantage.
Bingham starting to look good here. After he was let at the start of the third frame he potted 10 reds but missed the tenth black of his maximum attempt and despite Gilbert briefly playing on, the contribution of 73 was enough for a 3-0 lead to go one away from victory.
Again in frame four Bingham had the first chance and once again he made it count, a break of 72 was enough to leave Gilbert needing four snookers and though he valiantly played on, it was soon all over with Stuart Bingham coming through a comfortable 4-0 winner.
Mark Allen Vs Yan Bingtao - the players are in the arena, and we're ready to go for this best-of 7 frames contest.
First chance for Yan here after a brilliant long red. Superb shot. Quickly up to 44 and reds opened from the pink. Great chance now to take the opening frame.
That was speedy from Yan. He misses a pink to middle on 75 but the damage is already done. 1-0.
Long pot in the second from Allen but he takes on a tricky green and misses. Good opportunity again for Yan.
Into the reds from a red he goes and gets a good split but faces a tricky black. In it goes and a great chance for 2-0 now.
Looked like a kick on the black on 45 to miss it by so much. Nothing was left for Allen but a missed shot to nothing from Yan leaves the red in the jaws. Good chance for Allen now.
The last red on the side cushion looked like it could have been the only stumbling block but with that negotiated a very nice clearance of 75 has seen Allen level at 1-1.
After a tactical start to frame three Allen has knocked in a great long red, gone straight into the bunch off of the first black and now has a decent chance with some reds open.
That's another very nice break from Mark Allen 79 featuring a double and he leads 2-1.
A poor safety from Allen and a red in off the one over the corner from Yan gave him a good chance in the fourth but he's missed and now left Allen a decent opening... Until he misses a red to middle, and Yan plays a red in off the green over the pocket to get back in.
He didn't kill the frame with that visit but a good mid-range pot (despite a loud sneeze on his back swing) leads to a run of 41 to square the match at 2-2.
Been a couple of misses in frame five a little table punch from Yan but Allen is in now with an opportunity to take that all important 3-2 lead.
A 3-2 lead Allen indeed takes. Some great shots in that break of 72 to give himself two bites at the cherry now to win this brilliant match.
Allen has had a chance at the start of the sixth but a kick ruined his position and ultimately cost him the break on 37. Yan in now. Can he force a decider?
Yes Yan can. A brilliant 92 clearance from the young Chinese player and we're going all the way here. This has been a treat to watch and is getting the finish it deserves.
First chance Yan in the decider. Knocked in some good balls so far but work to do to finish this off.
Yan misses the black on 56 two balls from clinching the match. Leaves nothing though, crucial safety battle now.
RESULT - YAN BINGTAO 4-3 MARK ALLEN
That's it for Allen. A good long pot from Yan already leading at 56-0 and he's able to finish the match off.
For the young Chinese he'll play the winner of Kritsanut Lertsattayatthorn and Ricky Walden where Kritsanut has just gone 3-2 ahead with a big break.
I'll be focusing on those games under the "Meanwhile" section until Carter Vs Woollaston and Bingham Vs Gilbert get underway, Robertson currently leading 3-2 on that table
Meanwhile... Chance for Walden on table 5 after a miss from Kritsanut. Won't be an easy kill though
Robertson started with a big ton against Xiao but now Xiao has a chance to hit back.
Jak Jones looking in a nice position to the first with Ding but it's a scrappy table and could take some getting over the line.
Jones indeed goes 1-0 ahead.
Xiao missed a couple in frame two and Robertson has gladly done the rest for 2-0.
Walden has taken a very lengthy opener against Kritsanut and Ding is looking very good to square his match with Jones...and he has. Eventual break of 108 there.
Robertson on fire against Xiao 125 there to make it 3-0 but on table 5 Kritsanut has gone one better with a very classy 126 break. First time I've seen him I think and he looks a good player.
Walden moves ahead of Kritsanut again with a 51 while Jak Jones has potted some good balls in frame three to take the frame on the pink and lead Ding 2-1.
Xiao starting to fightback against Robertson. Was 3-0 but now 3-1 and a chance for 3-2.
Jak Jones looking confident against a miss firing Ding Junhui.
Jak Jones did go 3-1 up on Ding, but despite needing plenty of chances, Ding is hanging on in there now at 2-3.
Walden had a chance to force the decider with Kritsanut but going into the reds off a red, saw the pink that was at the bottom of the pack follow it straight in. No damage done though.
Kritsanut Lertsattayatthorn was in with a reasonable winning chance in the sixth until he missed a fairly straightforward black off of the spot and Walden has done the rest to force a decider.
First chance to Walden in the decider, if he doesn't make it a winning contribution he can certainly take a healthy lead.
Walden takes a 51-0 lead, but with reds open had to win the safety duel that followed and after a missed long attempt from Kritsanut he now looks like sealing it.
RESULT: RICKY WALDEN 4-3 KRITSANUT LERTSATTAYATTHORN
Walden does eventually beat Kritsanut with that second contribution in the decider. Just a quick word of congrats to Wakelin on his win on the TV over Ronnie O'Sullivan. Ryan Day and Barry Hawkins both completed 4-1 victories on the tables I couldn't see and now O'Brien Vs Wenbo and Swail Vs Ford have started on these tables.
Two one sided frames in the in the Woollaston and Carter match see them at 1-1 in a match that should go close.
Jak Jones has just potted a brilliant pressure black on the bottom rail to force a re spot in frame 6 with Ding.
RESULT: JAK JONES 4-2 DING JUNHUI
Jones pots the re spot after a loose safety from Ding. The only attempt Ding had for a pot was from long range and he missed by a distance.
Woollaston looks fluent early on against Carter which is more of what we know he's capable of.
Kyren Wilson and Rhys Clark are now underway on table five while the decider between Robertson and Xiao on table two is still ongoing. Robertson has just missed to offer Xiao a chance with the scores fairly even but with reds safe there is plenty to do.
RESULT: XIAO GUODONG 4-3 NEIL ROBERTSON
Well what a comeback that is from Xiao Guodong from 3-0 down to beat Neil Robertson 4-3, after a 40+ minutes long decider. Robertson had a chance to clear from the last red but missed a tough blue to middle before Guodong potted blue and pink to clinch the match.
Stuart Bingham Vs David Gilbert will be next on that table and my next feature match which will appear at the top of the page.
Ben Woollaston continues to look good as he takes on Ali Carter, a clearance from the last couple of reds to pink making that 3-1. Carter will need a repeat of last night now to get through.
Woollaston has now beaten Carter 4-2 after hanging on as Carter made good attempts at snookers on the last red in frame six.
Mark Williams meanwhile opens up with a break of 138 in his match with Ian Preece, and is quickly in again in the second. The tip troubles from Monday appear to be behind him.
Rhys Clark has just compiled a clinical 72 that proved enough to turn his match with Kyren Wilson right around as he now leads Wilson 3-2 and is one away from consecutive Last 16 appearances following his run in Romania.
Aided by a series of foul points given away from his opponent Ian Preece is on the board against Mark Williams but remains 3-1 behind.
Williams has eventually seen off Ian Preece 4-1 and will play Judd Trump in the Last 16 this evening.
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